Vehicle Description
By the mid-1920s, Cadillac had more than justified its worldwide
reputation for luxurious, high-quality automobiles, living up to
their slogan -The Standard of the World. Cadillac cars were
powerful, well-engineered and crafted, and offered in a wide
variety of bodies to meet virtually every demand from its
increasingly discriminating clientele. By the late 1920s,
automobiles became more accessible and reliable, and manufacturers
increasingly relied on style to grab the attention of potential
buyers, and General Motors aimed to be at the forefront of this
seismic shift in the industry. In 1927, GM recruited a young
designer named Harley J. Earl away from the Los Angeles-based Don
Lee Coachworks and gave him free rein to form the new Art and
Colour Section at GM - America's first styling department. His
first charge was to style the LaSalle, GM's new mid-priced
"companion car" to the higher-end Cadillac. The new LaSalle, often
considered the first production car truly "styled" an automaker in
the modern sense, caused a sensation, and outshone that year's
Cadillacs. Not to be outdone by a junior brand, Cadillac ensured
Earl's influence was applied upmarket, with spectacular results.
This rakish 1928 341-A Sport Phaeton by Fisher perfectly
demonstrates the immediate and dramatic impact Harley Earl had on
Cadillac. Historians consider Mr. Earl the father of modern car
design, and his talents are on full display in this breathtaking
machine. The LaSalle influence is apparent in the cut-down cowl and
bold, decorative feature lines, though made more dramatic by
scaling the design up to suit Cadillac's longer 140-inch wheelbase
chassis. Fisher's 1172-B Sport Phaeton stands apart from the
standard 1172 Phaeton with its folding rear cowl and folding rear
windscreen to keep back seat passengers comfortable and out of the
wind. The Sport Phaeton is strikingly finished in a suitably bold
two-tone livery, with bright Kelly green featuring predominantly on
the body, accented with a darker green on the fenders, body feature
lines, and chassis. Fittingly for such a sporting car, it features
a host of period accessories, including steerable Pilot Ray driving
lamps, Goddess Mascot, dual side-mount spares with mirrors,
Cadillac-crest cowl lamps, a painted trunk, and painted wire wheels
with stainless spokes. The older restoration has matured gently,
and the paint and brightwork still show quite well. The vivid color
scheme pairs wonderfully with the saddle-colored tan leather
interior and tan canvas convertible top. Inside the cabin, a dark
green dashboard houses a suite of gauges and a Jaeger clock. A
trunk at the rear provides room for a weekend's worth of
luggage-ideal for quick trips to the lake house-with a folding
trunk rack offering the option of more cargo space for longer
journeys. The upholstery is in excellent condition, having taken on
an appealing light patina in the time since the restoration. In
1928, Cadillac introduced a raft of changes to their venerable
L-head V8 engine. Displacement was up to 341 cubic inches from 314,
with new high-compression cylinder heads and other refinements
pioneered by LaSalle. The engine made 90 horsepower in the Cadillac
and, when paired with a 3-speed manual gearbox, ensured performance
was on par with Packard and others, but with a more compact design.
This car's engine bay shows quite well, with authentic finishes and
hardware. It shows signs of regular use that are consistent with
the age of the restoration and are sure to encourage continued
enjoyment on the road. Breathtaking in design, grand in scale, and
athletic in character, this Series 341-A Sport Phaeton is rightly
recognized as a Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Full Classic and
would be a perfect candidate for casual exhibition, club events,
and open-air touring. Offers welcome and trades considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7151-1928-cadillac-series-341-a-sport-phaeton/